RAILROAD RIGHT-OF-WAY

It is often stated that when the Houston and Texas Central Railroad was being built from Houston to Austin that James Manor donated land through his 1280 acre land grant so that the railroad would build its tracks there instead of going through Webberville which was actually a  more direct route. That is almost true. 

Beginning at the very bottom of page 452 in Travis County Deed Records Book U is the agreement made between James Manor and the Houston and Texas Central Railway Company on March 30, 1871. 



The agreement in its entirety is as shown below;

"The State of Texas

County of Travis

Know all men by these presents: That for and inconsideration of the enhanced value to be given, and is contemplated to arise to my land and other property by the location and building of the Houston and Texas Central Rail Road, and for the further consideration of one dollar, to me in hand paid, the receipt thereof is hereby acknowledged. I James Manor of the County of Travis, and State of Texas, have granted, bargained, sold and released, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and release to the Houston and Texas Central Railway Company, a strip of two hundred feet of land over the tracts of land particularly described as follows, viz; a tract in Travis County known as a Donation of 1280 acres of land situated on Gillelands CK, over and upon which the said Company has built or may hereafter build its Railroad; and also, the right to have the same strip of land in width, over and upon any other lands now owned or which may hereafter be owned by him in this State, through which said Railroad has been or may be hereafter built, together with all and singular the rights members, hereditaments, and appurtenances to the same belonging or in anywise incident or appertaining. To have and to hold all and singular, the said premises unto the said Houston and Texas Central Railway Company or its assigns forever; and for the consideration aforesaid as herein set forth. I do further grant to said Company such earth, material, timber and rock, as may be found on his lands herein mentioned which may be required for construction of said Railroad; and I do herby grant to said Company, a full release for all claims against said Company for damages that may be sustained by their work in the construction and for the right of way of said Railroad, over any of the said lands.

James Manor

Filed for record this 6^th day of April, 1871, at 11 o’clock, A.M."

James Manor actually received a total of one dollar for the land that he granted to the railroad. 

Although there were other "one dollar agreements" it seems that the majority of  people in the Manor area received five dollars for allowing the railroad through their land. A few examples are these:

1. Mrs. Ann Drucilla Wildbahn, widow of Isaac Wildbahn, was paid $5 for the right-of-way through her land in the Calvin Barker tract on Wilbarger Creek.

2. William Chapman was paid $5 for the right-of-way through his land in the A. C. Caldwell league on Wilbarger Creek.

3. Benjamin R. Townsend was paid $5 for the right-of-way through his land in the J. C. Tannehill league.

4. Mrs. Ann Eliza Parsons, widow of Silas Parsons, received $1 for the right-of-way through her land in the Greenbury Gates tract on Wilbarger Creek.

5. Judge Thompson Mason Rector, Sr.  received $5 for the right-of-way through his land in the Calvin Barker tract on Wilbarger Creek.

6. William M. Walton received $5 for the right-of-way through his land in the Gordon C. Jennings league. (according to maps of that time, the railroad never went through his land)

7. J. E. Raney was paid $5 for the right-of-way through his land in the A. C. Caldwell league on Wilbarger Creek.

8. Thompson Mason Rector, Jr. was paid $5 for the right-of-way through his land in the A. C. Caldwell league on Wilbarger Creek.

9. Mrs. Angeline L. Townsend, widow of Nathaniel Townsend,  received $1 for the right-of-way through her land in the J. C. Tannehill league on the Colorado River.

This Travis County Map dated 1914 shows the route that the railroad took through the land owned by most of these people.

Travis County deed records list at least 22 people who, along with James Manor, gave the right-of-way to the railroad in 1871. The first train pulled into Austin on Christmas day of that same year. "Manor Station" started as just a stop on the railroad but it grew to become the "town of Manor" in the very next year. Had it not been for James Manor's "donation for $1", who knows what may have been the fate of the city of Manor.